We’ve got an opponent Montana has never seen before coming to town, The Sacred Heart Pioneers – formerly of the NEC and now headed to the CAA. When this was first announced I just figured… easy win, pull the starters by half and this is a defacto bye-week. However, this team is 5-2 and played the #7 team in the country Lehigh pretty well themselves. Eli Gillman is ranked 9th overall and Mitchell Summers, SHU’s running back, is ranked 11th overall in the FCS for rushing yards. When it comes to total team rushing yards in the FCS Sacred Heart is 17th best, Montana is 21st.
With a big Sac road game looming, Montana needs to be focused, this team has some real playmakers and a top 50 passing defense as well.
Sacred Heart Pioneers 5-2
12-7 win vs Stonehill College – Stonehill is an FCS team, in the NEC. This game was pretty uneventful for a while, 0-0 at the half. SHU would get a safety, and then a TD to go up 9-7, Stonehill answers to make it 9-7. SHU answered with a field goal. Stonehill on their last possession goes all the way to the SHU 8 yard line but can’t find the endzone to win it and it’s game over. Both teams were under 300 yards total, I count 3 turnovers on downs and 2 INTs.
28-10 loss @ Lehigh – SHU would go up 7-0 on a game opening kick return TD, but then Lehigh would score the next 28 points to seal the deal. It was SHU’s one game where their running game was bottled up, just 70 total yards on the ground while Lehigh had 286 rushing. SHU didn’t even have 200 yards of total offense.
24-21 win @ Long Island U - Another NEC opponent, it was a back and forth game, SHU would kick the game winning field goal as time expired to win it. SHU had 214 rushing and almost 200 passing, they did lose 2 interceptions in the game. Long Island ran for 194 and passed for just 24 yards on 3-10 passing.
31-28 win @ Norfolk State – SHU was only down 14-7 in this game and otherwise they lead the whole way. Norfolk would take the deficit from down 10 to down 3 two times in the late 3rd quarter and through the 4th quarter, but couldn’t stop SHU’s offense to get back in. However, as the game wore on Norfolk would hold SHU to a short drive and force a punt, with 1:39 to go they’d move the ball to the SHU 24 yard line, but would miss the kick to force overtime. SHU ran for almost 300, Norfolk was over 210, meanwhile SHU passed for about 90 while Norfolk passed for 340. Norfolk really hurt themselves in this game, 2 lost fumbles, 2 missed field goals, a turnover on downs, and an interception.
35-31 win vs Delaware State – SHU was down 21-10 in the 2nd, and 31-17 just before the half. Their defense in the 2nd half would allow no points and they would claw back with a TD + 2 point and another TD to then go up 35-31. DSU had just 4 possessions in the 2nd half, two 3 and outs, a missed field goal, and a turnover on downs. DSU had 100 more rushing yards than SHU, 250 to 150 approximately – but SHU had nearly 300 passing in the game and that helped them spark their comeback.
35-41 loss (OT) @ Central Connecticut State – SHU worked back from being down 20-7 to taking a 21-20 lead and then going score for score with CCS. CCS took a 35-28 lead with about 2 minutes to go in the game, but SHU would reply and score with less than a minute left to tie it. In OT CCS scores a TD on their first play, a 25 yard pass. SHU having to answer with a TD of their own. SHU would get to the 1 yard line – get pushed back 1 yard on 3rd and goal, and then throw an incomplete pass on 4th down to lose in OT. SHU had a very balanced 437 yards while CCS got the majority of their yards passing the ball, 323 of 509.
32-14 win vs Howard – Howard actually lead 14-3 at the half, but then SHU would get going, scoring 4 times in the 2nd half and shutting down Howard, there was an 80 yard TD run, a few field goals, and even a safety. SHU ran for 350 in the game and their stud RB lead the country with 250 on the ground.
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General Stats
Passing yards per game GRIZ (297 for GRIZ vs 168 for SHU)
Rushing yards per game SHU (194 for GRIZ vs 208 for SHU)
Total offense GRIZ (491 for GRIZ vs 376 for SHU)
Passing yards allowed per game SHU (244 for GRIZ vs 190 for SHU)
Rushing yards allowed per game GRIZ (153 or GRIZ vs 189 for SHU)
Total defense GRIZ (397 for GRIZ vs 379 for SHU)
Offense points scored GRIZ (40 for GRIZ vs 25.6 for SHU)
Defense points allowed GRIZ (22.8 for GRIZ vs 24.4 for SHU)
Turnover margin GRIZ (+3 for GRIZ / +/- 0 for SHU)
Field goal % GRIZ (83% for GRIZ vs 82% for SHU)
Punt Returns GRIZ (8.4 yards for GRIZ vs 5.2 yards for SHU)
Kick Returns GRIZ (24.3 yards for GRIZ vs 19.6 yards for SHU)
T.O.P. GRIZ (32:30 for GRIZ vs 32:03 for SHU)
Red Zone defense (touchdowns) GRIZ (50% GRIZ / 63% SHU)
Red Zone offense (touchdowns) GRIZ (76% GRIZ / 50% SHU)
3rd down offense SHU – (44.6% for GRIZ / 48.2% for SHU)
3rd down defense SHU – (34.8% allowed for GRIZ vs 27.6% allowed for SHU)
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Solid pull for Montana, they get 13 while SHU gets 4.
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Sacred Heart Players to Watch:
#20 Mitchell Summers, RB: His bio states he is 5-7 and 155 pounds but this guy has some wild numbers. 638 rushing yards (91.1 ypg average) and 5 total rushing TDs, he’s got 7 catches for 112 yards as well. For reference Monte Gillman is listed at 5-8, 162. Summer has tremendous top speed, in his highlight reels he flat out burns defenders when in the open.
#14 Jack Snyder, QB: Snyder is listed at 6 feet tall and 177 pounds, he is a dual threat QB in their zone-read offense. He’s averaging just under 175 passing per game and has 5 passing TDs to 2 INTs. On the ground he’s the team’s 2nd best rusher with 345 yards on the ground and 4 rushing TDs there.
#17 Payton Rhoades, WR: A grad transfer, 6-2, 195 pound WR he’s one of the team’s two main guys in the passing game. He leads the team in yards with 295 and has 2 receiving TDs this season so far.
#14 Maximus Mongelli, DB: The team leader in tackles, he’s got 38 total, 1.5 TFLs, 1 INT, and 2 passes defended.
#6 Kyle Hall, LB: A linebacker that seems to line up on the LOS from time to time, he’s 2nd on the team with 37 tackles and 2 TFLs, he also has 1 INT
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Keys to a Grizzly victory
I don’t think we’re going to see a “big win hangover” for a while like we did in last week’s game, my hope is that Montana starts working toward better continued consistency in this game. I still expect some fits from SHU – we’ll see some goofy deeps shots I’m sure too. I don’t think SHU has the horses to hang though, I could see Montana trying to jump up early and if they can do so they’ll get a comfy lead and peel back. I’ll say Griz take the win 49-13.
Go Griz!
With a big Sac road game looming, Montana needs to be focused, this team has some real playmakers and a top 50 passing defense as well.
Sacred Heart Pioneers 5-2
12-7 win vs Stonehill College – Stonehill is an FCS team, in the NEC. This game was pretty uneventful for a while, 0-0 at the half. SHU would get a safety, and then a TD to go up 9-7, Stonehill answers to make it 9-7. SHU answered with a field goal. Stonehill on their last possession goes all the way to the SHU 8 yard line but can’t find the endzone to win it and it’s game over. Both teams were under 300 yards total, I count 3 turnovers on downs and 2 INTs.
28-10 loss @ Lehigh – SHU would go up 7-0 on a game opening kick return TD, but then Lehigh would score the next 28 points to seal the deal. It was SHU’s one game where their running game was bottled up, just 70 total yards on the ground while Lehigh had 286 rushing. SHU didn’t even have 200 yards of total offense.
24-21 win @ Long Island U - Another NEC opponent, it was a back and forth game, SHU would kick the game winning field goal as time expired to win it. SHU had 214 rushing and almost 200 passing, they did lose 2 interceptions in the game. Long Island ran for 194 and passed for just 24 yards on 3-10 passing.
31-28 win @ Norfolk State – SHU was only down 14-7 in this game and otherwise they lead the whole way. Norfolk would take the deficit from down 10 to down 3 two times in the late 3rd quarter and through the 4th quarter, but couldn’t stop SHU’s offense to get back in. However, as the game wore on Norfolk would hold SHU to a short drive and force a punt, with 1:39 to go they’d move the ball to the SHU 24 yard line, but would miss the kick to force overtime. SHU ran for almost 300, Norfolk was over 210, meanwhile SHU passed for about 90 while Norfolk passed for 340. Norfolk really hurt themselves in this game, 2 lost fumbles, 2 missed field goals, a turnover on downs, and an interception.
35-31 win vs Delaware State – SHU was down 21-10 in the 2nd, and 31-17 just before the half. Their defense in the 2nd half would allow no points and they would claw back with a TD + 2 point and another TD to then go up 35-31. DSU had just 4 possessions in the 2nd half, two 3 and outs, a missed field goal, and a turnover on downs. DSU had 100 more rushing yards than SHU, 250 to 150 approximately – but SHU had nearly 300 passing in the game and that helped them spark their comeback.
35-41 loss (OT) @ Central Connecticut State – SHU worked back from being down 20-7 to taking a 21-20 lead and then going score for score with CCS. CCS took a 35-28 lead with about 2 minutes to go in the game, but SHU would reply and score with less than a minute left to tie it. In OT CCS scores a TD on their first play, a 25 yard pass. SHU having to answer with a TD of their own. SHU would get to the 1 yard line – get pushed back 1 yard on 3rd and goal, and then throw an incomplete pass on 4th down to lose in OT. SHU had a very balanced 437 yards while CCS got the majority of their yards passing the ball, 323 of 509.
32-14 win vs Howard – Howard actually lead 14-3 at the half, but then SHU would get going, scoring 4 times in the 2nd half and shutting down Howard, there was an 80 yard TD run, a few field goals, and even a safety. SHU ran for 350 in the game and their stud RB lead the country with 250 on the ground.
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General Stats
Passing yards per game GRIZ (297 for GRIZ vs 168 for SHU)
Rushing yards per game SHU (194 for GRIZ vs 208 for SHU)
Total offense GRIZ (491 for GRIZ vs 376 for SHU)
Passing yards allowed per game SHU (244 for GRIZ vs 190 for SHU)
Rushing yards allowed per game GRIZ (153 or GRIZ vs 189 for SHU)
Total defense GRIZ (397 for GRIZ vs 379 for SHU)
Offense points scored GRIZ (40 for GRIZ vs 25.6 for SHU)
Defense points allowed GRIZ (22.8 for GRIZ vs 24.4 for SHU)
Turnover margin GRIZ (+3 for GRIZ / +/- 0 for SHU)
Field goal % GRIZ (83% for GRIZ vs 82% for SHU)
Punt Returns GRIZ (8.4 yards for GRIZ vs 5.2 yards for SHU)
Kick Returns GRIZ (24.3 yards for GRIZ vs 19.6 yards for SHU)
T.O.P. GRIZ (32:30 for GRIZ vs 32:03 for SHU)
Red Zone defense (touchdowns) GRIZ (50% GRIZ / 63% SHU)
Red Zone offense (touchdowns) GRIZ (76% GRIZ / 50% SHU)
3rd down offense SHU – (44.6% for GRIZ / 48.2% for SHU)
3rd down defense SHU – (34.8% allowed for GRIZ vs 27.6% allowed for SHU)
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Solid pull for Montana, they get 13 while SHU gets 4.
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Sacred Heart Players to Watch:
#20 Mitchell Summers, RB: His bio states he is 5-7 and 155 pounds but this guy has some wild numbers. 638 rushing yards (91.1 ypg average) and 5 total rushing TDs, he’s got 7 catches for 112 yards as well. For reference Monte Gillman is listed at 5-8, 162. Summer has tremendous top speed, in his highlight reels he flat out burns defenders when in the open.
#14 Jack Snyder, QB: Snyder is listed at 6 feet tall and 177 pounds, he is a dual threat QB in their zone-read offense. He’s averaging just under 175 passing per game and has 5 passing TDs to 2 INTs. On the ground he’s the team’s 2nd best rusher with 345 yards on the ground and 4 rushing TDs there.
#17 Payton Rhoades, WR: A grad transfer, 6-2, 195 pound WR he’s one of the team’s two main guys in the passing game. He leads the team in yards with 295 and has 2 receiving TDs this season so far.
#14 Maximus Mongelli, DB: The team leader in tackles, he’s got 38 total, 1.5 TFLs, 1 INT, and 2 passes defended.
#6 Kyle Hall, LB: A linebacker that seems to line up on the LOS from time to time, he’s 2nd on the team with 37 tackles and 2 TFLs, he also has 1 INT
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Keys to a Grizzly victory
- OL control - SHU will work to stop Eli Gillman, I would love to see the Grizzly OL grab control of the line and push these guys around. They’re going to probably stack the box a bit and seeing some dominant OL play will be a good confidence builder going forward.
- Win on 3rd down – SHU, statistically, is the better team on both sides of the ball on 3rd down. Of course the question that arises is level of play between each teams / games – so is this a real factor or a false one? For continued Grizzly success being the better team on 3rd down will be huge.
- Stay at home – Zone read and option plays are coming our way, we’ve seen a lot of mobile QBs this season and here’s another. The Grizzly defense cannot get fooled too often, if Summers gets into the open that dude is GONE.
- A steady start – Would love for the offense to find some early footing and put up some fast points to help pace the game.
- Keep the RZ wins strong – Montana’s strength is their red zone offense that turns so many drives into TDs, this could help outpace a high flying offense that maybe gets some shell shock from the Grizzly defense or Wa Griz crowd
- A big game from the Grizzly corners – I’m going to assume we’ll run a lot of man to keep their zone read offense accounted for, the Griz corners need to keep building on a good showing they had against Cal Poly.
I don’t think we’re going to see a “big win hangover” for a while like we did in last week’s game, my hope is that Montana starts working toward better continued consistency in this game. I still expect some fits from SHU – we’ll see some goofy deeps shots I’m sure too. I don’t think SHU has the horses to hang though, I could see Montana trying to jump up early and if they can do so they’ll get a comfy lead and peel back. I’ll say Griz take the win 49-13.
Go Griz!
